The UPS Store Helps Small Businesses Score During NCAA® March Madness®

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- It's NCAA®March Madness - the season for filling out brackets and watching teams of all levels compete for the win. In the spirit of the season, The UPS Store® today announced its upcoming Small Business Expert Twitter chat series, designed to help small business owners "get in the game," "stay in the game," and "win the game." The chats, hosted by well-known small business experts, are the latest offer in The UPS Store's expanded effort to support small business owners.

"Just like a basketball team in the Final Four®, getting there is just part of the challenge when launching your own business," said Michelle Van Slyke, vice president of marketing and small business solutions at The UPS Store. "We know that starting a small business is an achievement in and of itself, but once you've taken that first step - what's next? How do you handle marketing your business or securing that big win? The good news - small business owners are not alone."

The chats, which can be followed using #SBOadvice, will begin at 3:00 p.m. Eastern on the following dates:

Tuesday, March 19:"Get in the Game - Make your small business dreams a reality," hosted by Michelle McCullough, small business startup and growth expert, and partner of @StartupPrincess

Tuesday, March 26: "Stay in the Game - Market your small business," hosted by Stephanie Chandler (@bizauthor), author and small business marketing expert

Tuesday, April 2:"Win the Game - Take your small business to the next level," hosted by Barry Moltz (@barrymoltz), author and entrepreneurship expert

The UPS Store also announced the rollout of its new Small Business Tool Kits designed to help small business owners in each stage of the game. The Start-Up Tool Kit includes a house account, a medium-sized mailbox with 6-month agreement, a $25 discount card for packing services, and a choice of two of the following print items: 500 business cards, 50 brochures and 100 flyers. The Growth Tool Kit includes a house account, a retractable banner with hardware, and a choice of two of the following print items: a poster, 100 flyers, and 50 brochures. Other tool kits are also available, but may vary by location. Pricing for tool kits may vary by location.

"The UPS Store is committed to being a part of a small business owner's team," Van Slyke said. "We understand the challenges small business owners face and want to help them succeed. Through the expertise of our franchisees, advice from small business experts and products like our new tool kits, we are helping small business owners focus on what they do best - running their businesses."

With nearly 4,400 locations in the U.S., The UPS Store network comprises the nation's largest franchise system of retail shipping, postal, printing and business service centers. In the U.S., The UPS Store locations are independently owned and operated by licensed franchisees of The UPS Store, Inc., a subsidiary of UPS (NYS: UPS) . Services, pricing and hours of operation may vary by location. For additional information on The UPS Store, including information on franchise opportunities for opening a The UPS Store location, visit www.theupsstore.com. UPS is a proud corporate partner of the NCAA®. NCAA, March Madness and Final Four are trademarks of the National Collegiate Athletics Association.